7 perennial possibilities for growers

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is the first of a two-part series.
    
    The amount of plant breeding and plant breeders seems endless. But will a newly developed cultivar behave the way it is designed? Will the perennial revert back to a parent plant in the cross? Will it become invasive in our gardens? Trials, time and planting in a garden landscape will be the “proof is in the pudding.”
    Here are some perennial possibilities that will liven up your landscape. This short list includes perennials that are not invasive and won’t revert back to a parent plant. These perennials provide nectar for pollinators, are long-flowering, non-invasive or sterile, drought-tolerant and are low maintenance.  Low maintenance means low or xeric water requirements once established, no fertilization required and few pests or pest-free.
    — Nepeta x faassenii cv. ‘Select Blue’ is a sterile, compact perennial that will not shed seed everywhere and become invasive. It has no insect and disease problems. But if you have cats or cats in the neighborhood, it may attract cats. Fertilization isn’t necessarily required and it does need well-drained but moist soils. It is less drought-tolerant than the other Nepeta cultivars. A pruning right before it starts to produce flowers can keep it compact and a pruning after the first flowers will help with more prolific bloom from May through September.
    — Nepeta x racemosa cv. ‘Walker’s Low’ isn’t really that low because it gets up to 30 inches tall. It is sterile and won’t produce seeds. It is also an insect and disease-free plant. ‘Walker’s Low’ thrives in dry soils and tolerates drought.  Pruning is the same as ‘Select Blue.’ This cultivar, ‘Walker’s Low’ is closer to the true catmint that cats love.   
    — Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ does live up to its name because it grows to three feet tall.  However, it is still sterile and is drought-tolerant. Unfortunately, ‘Six Hills Giant’ blooms in June and July. It can suffer from root rot if the crown of the plant is overwatered. Yes, cats find this plant alluring.

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